Summary of Titus

Subjects: Qualifications for leadership,
We can deny God with our actions, Be godly and self-controlled, The
Holy Spirit turns us away from disobedience, etc.

Chapters: 3

Summary of Titus 1

Paul introduces himself to Titus and
reminds him that he wanted him to stay in Crete in order to set up
the church(es) there, selecting leaders to be in charge of the
believers. Paul covers the qualifications for the elders and bishops,
essentially saying that they need to be sinless, righteous, and
educated in the word of God.

Paul also says that those who are false
teachers need to be stopped from spreading their falsehood. Paul
tells Titus, "rebuke then sharply, so that they may become sound
in the faith,not paying attention to Jewish myths
or to [instructions] of those who reject the truth." (Titus
1:13-14)

Speaking of these false teachers, Paul
says, "They profess to know God, but they deny him by their
actions." (Titus 1:16) This statement is important, because Paul
is making it clear that anyone can claim to be a believer, but we can
deny God with our actions.

These false teachers likely thought
they were saved and that they were actually teaching the truth;
however, Paul claims their actions deny God even though they claim
otherwise. Essentially, their actions prove what is true, and we show
what we truly believe by what we do.

True faith is supported by our
righteous actions and abstinence from sin. James says, "For just
as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is
also dead." (James 2:26) James connects "works" to obeying God's commandments in James 2:8-12.

Summary of Titus 2

Paul encourages Titus to instruct with
good teachings that are scriptural. He then gives examples of how
believers should behave, including being self-controlled. Paul says
that God's grace "[trains] us to renounce impiety and worldly
passions, and in the present age to live lives that are
self-controlled, upright, and godly..." (Titus 2:11-12)

This statement in Titus 2:11-12 is the essence of repentance and Becoming a Mature Christian: training to be self-controlled, upright, and godly.

Paul
encourages Titus to be confident in opposing anyone who teaches
incorrect doctrine.

Summary of Titus 3

Paul continues giving Titus
instructions on what to teach and remind the believers. Paul makes
the point that "we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led
astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures...But when the
goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us,
not because of any works of righteousness that we had done, but
according to his mercy, through the water of rebirth and renewal by
the Holy Spirit." (Titus 3:3-4)

Paul is plainly illustrating the
message of the gospel: that we have done nothing to earn salvation,
but that God's kindness does cause a change in behavior. Paul notes that
"we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient..." but that
God's kindness caused rebirth and renewal through faith and
repentance.

In Romans 2:4, Paul says, "Do you not realize that
God's kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?"

Paul
wants Titus to insist on these facts, "so that those who have
come to believe in God may be careful to devote themselves to good
works." (Titus 3:8) Paul then tells Titus to avoid anyone who
refuses to repent of their focus on worthless obsessions of
genealogies, myths, and disagreements in general.

Concluding Summary of Titus

According to Paul, Titus has been left
in Crete in order to lay the foundation of the church(es) by electing
leaders from the believers in Crete. Paul gives Titus qualifications
for the leaders, as well as instructions for all believers in Crete.

The main subjects that Paul covers in this letter to Titus are:
Qualifications for leadership, We can deny God with our actions, Be
godly and self-controlled, The Holy Spirit turns us away from
disobedience, etc.